Song Lyrics

[Chorus]
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long

I went across the river and I laid down to sleep
I went across the river and I laid down to sleep
I went across the river and I laid down to sleep
When I woke up, I had shackles on my feet

Twenty-one links of chain around my leg
Twenty-one links of chain around my leg
Twenty-one links of chain around my leg
And on each link, is initial of my name

[Chorus]

I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine
I asked the judge, tell me, what's gonna be my fine
I asked the judge, tell me, what's gonna be my fine
Twenty one years on the Rocky Mountain Line

Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime
Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime
Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime
Twenty-one years and I still got ninety-nine

[Chorus]

If anybody ask you, "Well who made up this song?"
If anybody ask you, "Well who made up this song?"
If anybody ask you, "Well who made up this song?"
Tell 'em t'was me and I done been here and gone

[Chorus]

A.p. Carter